A novel class of compounds, which act to antagonize the action of the glucagon hormone on the glucagon receptor. Owing to their antagonizing effect of the glucagon receptor the compounds may be suitable for the treatment and/or prevention of any diseases and disorders, wherein a glucagon antagonistic action is beneficial, such as hyperglycemia, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, disorders of the lipid metabolism, such as dyslipidemia, and obesity.

R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, A is —C(O)—, —CH(OR6)— or —CHF—, wherein R6 is hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, Z is arylene or a divalent radical derived from a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, which may optionally be substituted with one or two groups R7 and R8 selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR9, —NR9R10 and C1-6alkyl, wherein R9 and R10 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, X is

wherein

r is 0 or 1, q and s independently are 0, 1, 2 or 3, R11, R12, R13 and R14 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or C3-8-cycloalkyl, D is

wherein

R15, R16, R17 and R18 independently are hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CHF2, —CF3, —OCF3, —OCHF2, —OCH2CF3, —OCF2CHF2, —S(O)2CF3, —SCF3, —NO2, —OR21, —NR21R22, —SR21, —NR21S(O)2R22, —S(O)2NR21R22, —S(O)NR21R22, —S(O)R21, —S(O)2R21, —C(O)NR21R22, —OC(O)NR21R22, —NR21C(O)R22, —CH2C(O)NR21R22, —OCH2C(O)NR21R22, —OC(O)R21, —C(O)R21 or —C(O)OR21, C1-6-alkyl, C2-6-alkenyl or C2-6-alkynyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR21, —NR21R22 and C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkoxy, C3-8-cycloalkyloxy, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkylthio, C3-8-cycloalkylthio, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C2-6-alkenyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C2-6-alkynyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl-C1-6-alkyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl-C2-6-alkenyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl-C2-6-alkynyl, heterocyclyl-C1-6-alkyl, heterocyclyl-C2-6-alkenyl, heterocyclyl-C2-6-alkynyl, aryl, aryloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, aroyl, aryl-C1-6-alkoxy, aryl-C1-6-alkyl, aryl-C2-6-alkenyl, aryl-C2-6-alkynyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl-C1-6-alkyl, heteroaryl-C2-6-alkenyl or heteroaryl-C2-6-alkynyl, of which the cyclic moieties optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —C(O)OR21, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR21, —NR21R22 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R21 and R22 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl, aryl-C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R21 and R22 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds, or two of the groups R15 to R18 when placed in adjacent positions together may form a bridge —(CR23R24)a—O—(CR25R26)c—O,

wherein

a is 0, 1 or 2, c is 1 or 2, R23, R24, R25 and R26 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or fluorine, R19 and R20 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkyl, E is

wherein

R27 and R28 independently are hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OR32, —NR32R33, C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl or aryl, wherein the aryl group optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, —OR32, —NR32R33 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R32 and R33 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, or R32 and R33 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds, R29, R30 and R31 independently are hydrogen, halogen, —CHF2, —CF3, —OCF3, —OCHF2, —OCH2CF3, —OCF2CHF2, —SCF3, —OR34, —NR34R35, —SR34, —S(O)R34, —S(O)2R34, —C(O)NR34R35, —OC(O)NR34R35, —NR34C(O)R35, —OCH2C(O)NR34R35, —C(O)R34 or —C(O)OR34, C1-6-alkyl, C2-6-alkenyl or C2-6-alkynyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C2-6-alkenyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C2-6-alkynyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl-C1-6-alkyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl-C2-6-alkenyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl-C2-6-alkynyl, heterocyclyl-C1-6-alkyl, heterocyclyl-C2-6-alkenyl, heterocyclyl-C2-6-alkynyl, aryl, aryloxy, aroyl, aryl-C1-6-alkoxy, aryl-C1-6-alkyl, aryl-C2-6-alkenyl, aryl-C2-6-alkynyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl-C1-6-alkyl, heteroaryl-C2-6-alkenyl or heteroaryl-C2-6-alkynyl, of which the cyclic moieties optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds, or two of the groups R29, R30 and R31 when attached to the same ring carbon atom or different ring carbon atoms together may form a radical —O—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)l—O—, or —S—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)l—S—,

wherein

t and l independently are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, R36 and R37 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, as well as any optical or geometric isomer or tautomeric form thereof including mixtures of these or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are hydrogen.

3. A compound according to claim 1, wherein A is —CHF—.

4. A compound according to claim 1, wherein A is —CH(OR6)—, wherein R6 is as defined in claim 1.

5. A compound according to claim 4, wherein A is —CH(OH)—.

6. A compound according to claim 1, wherein Z is

7. A compound according to claim 6, wherein Z is

8. A compound according to claim 1, wherein X is

wherein q is 0 or 1, r is 0 or 1, s is 0, 1 or 2, and R12 and R13 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl.

12. A compound according to claim 11, wherein X is —C(O)NH—, —C(O)NHCH2—, —C(O)NHCH(CH3)—, —C(O)CH2— or —C(O)—.

13. A compound according to claim 12, wherein X is —C(O)NH—.

14. A compound according to claim 1, wherein D is

15. A compound according to claim 14, wherein D is

16. A compound according to claim 14, wherein R15, R16 and R17 independently are hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —OCF3, —SCF3, C1-6-alkyl, C1-6-alkoxy, —S—C16-alkyl, —C(O)OR21, —C(O)R21, —CH2OR21, C(O)NR21R22, —S(O)R21, —S(O)2R21, —S(O)2CF3, —S(O)2NR21R22, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkoxy or C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-thioalkyl, or aryl, heteroaryl or aryloxy, which may optionally be substituted with —CF3, —OCF3, C1-6-alkyl, halogen or —C(O)OR21, or two of the groups R15, R16 and R17 when placed in adjacent positions together form a bridge —(CR23R24)a—O—(CR25R26)c—O—, and wherein R21 and R22 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl.

17. A compound according to claim 16, wherein R15, R16 and R17 independently are hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3 or C1-6-alkoxy or wherein R15 and R16 together form a bridge —CF2O —CF2—O— and R17 is hydrogen.

wherein R15 and R16 are both hydrogen and R19 is C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C3-8-cycloalkyl-C1-6-alkyl.

21. A compound according to claim 19, wherein D is

wherein R15 and R16 are both hydrogen and R19 and R20 are both C1-6-alkyl.

22. A compound according to claim 1, wherein E is

23. A compound according to claim 22, wherein E is

24. A compound according to claim 23, wherein F is

25. A compound according to claim 23, wherein R27 and R28 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C4-8-cycloalkenyl or aryl, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, —OR32, —NR32R33 and C1-6-alkyl.

26. A compound according to claim 25, wherein R27 and R28 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl.

27. A compound according to claim 26, wherein R27 is hydrogen and R28 is C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl.

28. A compound according to claim 27, wherein R27 is hydrogen and R28 is C1-6-alkyl or C3-8-cycloalkyl.

29. A compound according to claim 22, wherein E is

30. A compound according to claim 29, wherein E is

31. A compound according to claim 29, wherein R29, R30 and R31 independently are hydrogen, —CHF2, —CF3, —OCF3, —OCHF2, —OCH2CF3, —OCF2CHF2, —SCF3, —OR34, —NR34R35, —SR34, —S(O)R34, —S(O)2R34, —C(O)NR34R35, —OC(O)NR34R35, —NR34C(O)R35, —OCH2C(O)NR34R35, —C(O)R34 or —C(O)OR34, C1-6-alkyl, C2-6-alkenyl or C2-6-alkynyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

32. A compound according to claim 31, wherein R29, R30 and R31 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkoxy, halogen, —CF3, —OCF3 or —NR34R35, or C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which are optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl.

33. A compound according to claim 32, wherein R29, R30 and R31 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which are optionally substituted as defined in claim 32.

34. A compound according to claim 32, wherein R29, R30 and R31 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

35. A compound according to claim 34, wherein R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is different from hydrogen.

36. A compound according to claim 34, wherein R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

37. A compound according to claim 36, wherein R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

38. A compound according to claim 37, wherein R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is cyclohexenyl, which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl, wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C16-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

39. A compound according to claim 37, wherein R30 is substituted with one C1-6-alkyl substituent.

40. A compound according to claim 33, wherein R29, R30 and R31 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl.

41. A compound according to claim 40, wherein R29 and R31 are both hydrogen and R30 is C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl.

49. A compound according to claim 1, which has an IC50 value of no greater than 5 μM as determined by Glucagon Binding Assay (I) or Glucagon Binding Assay (II).

50. A compound according to claim 49, which has an IC50 value of less than 1 μM as determined by Glucagon Binding Assay (I) or Glucagon Binding Assay (II).

51. A compound according to claim 1, which is an agent useful for the treatment and/or prevention of an indication selected from the group consisting of hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity.

52. A method for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders or diseases, wherein a glucagon antagonistic action is beneficial, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound according to claim 1.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the effective amount of the compound is in the range of from about 0.05 mg to about 2000 mg per day.

54. A compound according to claim 49, which has an IC50 value of less than 500 nM as determined by Glucagon Binding Assay (I) or Glucagon Binding Assay (II).

55. A compound according to claim 49, which has an IC50 value of less than 100 nM as determined by Glucagon Binding Assay (I) or Glucagon Binding Assay (II).

56. The method according to claim 52, wherein the effective amount of the compound is in the range of from about 0.1 mg to about 1000 mg per day.

57. The method according to claim 52, wherein the effective amount of the compound is in the range of from about 0.5 mg to about 500 mg per day.

59. A method for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders or diseases, wherein a glucagon antagonistic action is beneficial, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound according to claim 58.

60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the effective amount of the compound is in the range of from about 0.05 mg to about 2000 mg per day.

61. The method according to claim 59, wherein the effective amount of the compound is in the range of from about 0.1 mg to about 1000 mg per day.

62. The method according to claim 59, wherein the effective amount of the compound is in the range of from about 0.5 mg to about 500 mg per day.

63. A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound according to claim 1 together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

64. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 63 in unit dosage form, said composition comprising from about 0.05 mg to about 1000 mg, of the compound.

65. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 63 in unit dosage form, said composition comprising from about about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg of the compound.

66. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 63 in unit dosage form, said composition comprising from about 0.5 mg to about 200 mg of the compound.

67. A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound according to claim 58 together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

68. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 67 in unit dosage form, said composition comprising from about 0.05 mg to about 1000 mg, of the compound.

69. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 67 in unit dosage form, said composition comprising from about about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg of the compound.

70. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 67 in unit dosage form, said composition comprising from about 0.5 mg to about 200 mg of the compound.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agents that act to antagonize the action of the glucagon peptide hormone on the glucagon receptor. More particularly, it relates to glucagon antagonists or inverse agonists.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glucagon is a key hormonal agent that, in co-operation with insulin, mediates homeostatic regulation of the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucagon primarily acts by stimulating certain cells (mostly liver cells) to release glucose when blood glucose levels fall. The action of glucagon is opposite to that of insulin, which stimulates cells to take up and store glucose whenever blood glucose levels rise. Both glucagon and insulin are peptide hormones.

Glucagon is produced in the alpha islet cells of the pancreas and insulin in the beta islet cells. Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder of glucose metabolism. The disease is characterized by hyperglycemia and may be classified as Type 1 diabetes, the insulin-dependent form, or Type 2 diabetes, which is non-insulin-dependent in character. Subjects with Type 1 diabetes are hyperglycemic and hypoinsulinemic, and the conventional treatment for this form of the disease is to provide insulin. However, in some patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, absolute or relative elevated glucagon levels have been shown to contribute to the hyperglycemic state. Both in healthy control animals as well as in animal models of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, removal of circulating glucagon with selective and specific antibodies has resulted in reduction of the glycemic level (Brand et al., Diabetologia 37, 985 (1994); Diabetes 43, [suppl 1], 172A (1994); Am. J. Physiol. 269, E469-E477 (1995); Diabetes 44 [suppl 1], 134A (1995); Diabetes 45, 1076 (1996)). These studies suggest that glucagon suppression or an action that antagonizes glucagon could be a useful adjunct to conventional antihyperglycemia treatment of diabetes. The action of glucagon can be suppressed by providing an antagonist or an inverse agonist, ie substances that inhibit or prevent glucagon-induced responses. The antagonist can be peptidic or non-peptidic in nature.

Glucagon exerts its action by binding to and activating its receptor, which is part of the Glucagon-Secretin branch of the 7-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor family (Jelinek et al., Science 259, 1614, (1993)). The receptor functions by activating the adenylyl cyclase second messenger system and the result is an increase in cAMP levels.

These known glucagon antagonists differ structurally from the present compounds.

DEFINITIONS

The following is a detailed definition of the terms used to describe the compounds of the invention:

“Halogen” designates an atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I.

The term “C1-6-alkyl” as used herein represents a saturated, branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, tert-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl and the like.

The term “C2-6-alkenyl” as used herein represents a branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one double bond. Examples of such groups include, but are not limited to, vinyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, iso-propenyl, 1,3-butadienyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 2,4-hexadienyl, 5-hexenyl and the like.

The term “C2-6-alkynyl” as used herein represents a branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one triple bond. Examples of such groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-pentynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 4-pentynyl, 1-hexynyl, 2-hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, 4-hexynyl, 5-hexynyl, 2,4-hexadiynyl and the like.

The term “C1-6-alkoxy” as used herein refers to the radical —O—C1-6-alkyl, wherein C1-6-alkyl is as defined above. Representative examples are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, pentoxy, isopentoxy, hexoxy, isohexoxy and the like.

The term “C1-6-alkanoyl” as used herein denotes a group —C(O)H or —C(O)—C1-5-alkyl. Representative examples are formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeyl, hexanoyl and the like.

The term “C3-8-cycloalkyl” as used herein represents a saturated, carbocyclic group having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Representative examples are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl and the like.

The term “C4-8-cycloalkenyl” as used herein represents a non-aromatic, carbocyclic group having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms containing one or two double bonds. Representative examples are 1-cyclopentenyl, 2-cyclopentenyl, 3-cyclopentenyl, 1-cyclohexenyl, 2-cyclohexenyl, 3-cyclohexenyl, 2-cycloheptenyl, 3-cycloheptenyl, 2-cyclooctenyl, 1,4-cyclooctadienyl and the like.

The term “heterocyclyl” as used herein represents a non-aromatic 3 to 10 membered ring containing one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur and optionally containing one or two double bonds. Representative examples are pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, aziridinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and the like.

The term “aryl” as used herein is intended to include carbocyclic aromatic ring systems such as phenyl, biphenylyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, pentalenyl, azulenyl and the like. Aryl is also intended to include the partially hydrogenated derivatives of the carbocyclic systems enumerated above. Non-limiting examples of such partially hydrogenated derivatives are 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, 1,4-dihydronaphthyl and the like.

The term “arylene” as used herein is intended to include divalent carbocyclic aromatic ring systems such as phenylene, biphenylylene, naphthylene, anthracenylene, phenanthrenylene, fluorenylene, indenylene, pentalenylene, azulenylene and the like. Arylene is also intended to include the partially hydrogenated derivatives of the carbocyclic systems enumerated above. Non-limiting examples of such partially hydrogenated derivatives are 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthylene, 1,4-dihydronaphthylene and the like.

The term “aryloxy” as used herein denotes a group —O-aryl, wherein aryl is as defined above.

The term “aroyl” as used herein denotes a group —C(O)-aryl, wherein aryl is as defined above.

“Aryl-C1-6-alkyl”, “heteroaryl-C1-6-alkyl”, “aryl-C2-6-alkenyl” etc. mean C1-6-alkyl or C2-6-alkenyl as defined above, substituted by an aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, for example:

The term “optionally substituted” as used herein means that the groups in question are either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the substituents specified. When the groups in question are substituted with more than one substituent the substituents may be the same or different.

Certain of the above defined terms may occur more than once in the structural formulae, and upon such occurrence each term shall be defined independently of the other.

Furthermore, when using the terms “independently are” and “independently selected from” it should be understood that the groups in question may be the same or different.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the unexpected observation that the compounds of the general formula (I) disclosed below antagonize the action of glucagon.

The compounds are advantageous by being selective towards the glucagon receptor and show a higher binding affinity for the glucagon receptor compared to the binding affinity for the structurally related GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Peptide) receptor and GIP-1 receptor.

Accordingly, the present inventions relate to compounds of the general formula (I):

wherein

R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

A is —C(O)—, —CH(OR6)— or —CHF—,

wherein R8 is hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

Z is arylene or a divalent radical derived from a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur,

which may optionally be substituted with one or two groups R7 and R8 selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR9, —NR9R10 and C1-6-alkyl,

or R21 and R22 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

or two of the groups R15 to R18 when placed in adjacent positions together may form a bridge —(CR23R24)a—O(CR25R26)c—O—,

wherein the aryl group optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, —OR32, —NR32R33 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R32 and R33 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, or

R32 and R33 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

of which the cyclic moieties optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

or two of the groups R29, R30 and R31 when attached to the same ring carbon atom or different ring carbon atoms together may form a radical —O—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I—O—, —(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I— or —S—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I—S—,

wherein

t and I independently are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5,

R36 and R37 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

as well as any optical or geometric isomer or tautomeric form thereof including mixtures of these or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In another aspect, the invention is concerned with compounds of the general formula (I′)

wherein

R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

A is —C(O)—, —CH(OR6)— or —CHF—,

wherein R6 is hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

Z is arylene or a divalent radical derived from a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur,

which may optionally be substituted with one or two groups R7 and R8 selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR9, —NR9R10 and C1-6-alkyl,

or R21 and R22 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

or two of the groups R15 to R18 when placed in adjacent positions together may form a bridge —(CR23R24)a—(CR25R26)c—O—,

wherein the aryl group optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2 R32 —NR32R33 and C1-6-alkyl

wherein R32 and R33 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, or

R32 and R33 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

of which the cyclic moieties optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

or two of the groups R29, R30 and R31 when attached to the same ring carbon atom or different ring carbon atoms together may form a radical —O—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I—O—, —(CH2)t—CR36R37-(CH2)I— or —S—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I—S—,

wherein

t and I independently are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5,

R36 and R37 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

as well as any optical or geometric isomer or tautomeric form thereof including mixtures of these or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In another aspect, the invention is concerned with compounds of the general formula (I″):

wherein

R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

A is —C(O)—, —CH(O6) or —CHF—,

wherein R is hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or halogen,

Z is arylene or a divalent radical derived from a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur,

which may optionally be substituted with one or two groups R7 and R” selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR9, —NR9R10 and C1-6-alkyl,

of which the cyclic moieties optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR21, —NR21R22 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R21 and R22 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R21 and R22 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

or two of the groups R15 to R18 when placed in adjacent positions together may form a bridge —(CR23R24)a—O—(CR25R26)c—O—,

wherein the aryl group optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —NO2, —OR32, —NR32R33 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R32 and R33 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl, or

R32 and R33 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

of which the cyclic moieties optionally may be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds,

or two of the groups R29, R30 and R31 when attached to the same ring carbon atom or different ring carbon atoms together may form a radical —O—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I—O—, —(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I— or —S—(CH2)t—CR36R37—(CH2)I—S—,

wherein

t and I independently are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5,

R36 and R37 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl,

as well as any optical or geometric isomer or tautomeric form thereof including mixtures of these or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In one embodiment, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are hydrogen.

In one embodiment, A is —CHF—.

In another embodiment, A is —CH(OR6)—, wherein R6 is as defined for formula (I), such as —CH(OH)—.

In one embodiment, Z is

wherein R7 and R8 are as defined for formula (I), such as

In one embodiment, X is

wherein q is 0 or 1, r is 0 or 1, s is 0, 1 or 2, and R12 and R13 independently are hydrogen or C1-6-alkyl.

In still another embodiment, X is —C(O)NH—, —C(O)NHCH2—, —C(O)NHCH(CH3)—, —C(O)NHCH2CH2—, —C(O)CH2—, —CH2—, —C(O)— or —NHC(O)—. In still a further embodiment, X is —C(O)NH—, —C(O)NHCH2—, —C(O)NHCH(CH3)—, —C(O)CH2— or —C(O)—, such as —C(O)NH—.

which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl

C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl,

which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl, or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

In yet another embodiment, R29, R30 and R31 are independently

hydrogen, C1-6-alkoxy, halogen, —CF3, OCF3 or —NR34R35, wherein R34 and R35 are as defined for formula (I), or

C1-6-alkyl, C3-8cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which are optionally substituted as defined for formula (I).

In still another embodiment, R29 R30 and R3 are independently

hydrogen or

C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, which are optionally substituted as defined for formula (I).

In yet another embodiment, R29, R30 and R31 are independently

hydrogen or

C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl,

which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

In another embodiment, R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is different from hydrogen.

In still another embodiment, R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl,

which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

In yet a further embodiment, R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is C4-8-cycloalkenyl,

which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

In still a further embodiment R29 and R31 are both hydrogen, and R30 is cyclohexenyl,

which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, —NO2, —OR34, —NR34R35 and C1-6-alkyl,

wherein R34 and R35 independently are hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl or aryl,

or R34 and R35 when attached to the same nitrogen atom together with the said nitrogen atom may form a 3 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring optionally containing one or two further heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and optionally containing one or two double bonds.

In another embodiment, R30 is substituted with one C1-6-alkyl substituent, such as tert-butyl or methyl.

In still another embodiment, R29, R30 and R31 are independently hydrogen, C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl.

In yet another embodiment, R29 and R31 are both hydrogen and R30 is C1-6-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C4-8-cycloalkenyl, such as tert-butyl, cyclohexyl or cyclohexenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I1):

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, X, D and E are as defined for formula (I) or in any one of the preceding embodiments.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I2):

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, D and E are as defined for formula (I) or in any one of the preceding embodiments.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I3):

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R15, R16, R17, R29, R30, and R31 are as defined for formula (I) or in any one of the preceding embodiments.

In one embodiment of the formulae (I1), (I2) and (I3), R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are hydrogen.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I4):

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R8, X, D and E are as defined for formula (I) or in any one of the preceding embodiments.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I5):

wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R8, D and E are as defined for formula (I) or in any one of the preceding embodiments.

In one embodiment of the formulae (I4) and (I5), R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7 and R8 are hydrogen.

The compounds of the present invention may have one or more asymmetric centres and it is intended that any optical isomers, as separated, pure or partially purified optical isomers or racemic mixtures thereof are included within the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, when a double bond or a fully or partially saturated ring system is present in the molecule geometric isomers may be formed. It is intended that any geometric isomers, as separated, pure or partially purified geometric isomers or mixtures thereof are included within the scope of the invention. Likewise, molecules having a bond with restricted rotation may form geometric isomers. These are also intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, some of the compounds of the present invention may exist in different tautomeric forms and it is intended that any tautomeric forms that the compounds are able to form are included within the scope of the present invention.

The acid addition salts may be obtained as the direct products of compound synthesis. In the alternative, the free base may be dissolved in a suitable solvent containing the appropriate acid, and the salt isolated by evaporating the solvent or otherwise separating the salt and solvent.

The compounds of the present invention may form solvates with standard low molecular weight solvents using methods well known to the person skilled in the art. Such solvates are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.

The invention also encompasses prodrugs of the present compounds, which on administration undergo chemical conversion by metabolic processes before becoming pharmacologically active substances. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of the compounds of the general formula (I), which are readily convertible in vivo into the required compound of the formula (I). Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrug derivatives are described, for example, in “Design of Prodrugs”, ed. H. Bundgaard, Elsevier, 1985.

The invention also encompasses active metabolites of the present compounds.

The compounds according to the present invention act to antagonize the action of glucagon and are accordingly useful for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders and diseases in which such an antagonism is beneficial.

Furthermore, they may be applicable as diagnostic agents for identifying patients having a defect in the glucagon receptor, as a therapy to increase gastric acid secretions and to reverse intestinal hypomobility due to glucagon administration.

Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention relates to a compound according to the invention for use as a medicament.

The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one compound according to the invention together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

The pharmaceutical composition is preferably in unit dosage form comprising from about 0.05 mg to about 1000 mg, preferably from about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg and especially preferred from about 0.5 mg to about 200 mg of the compound according to the invention.

Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a compound according to the invention for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of a disorder or disease, wherein a glucagon antagonistic action is beneficial.

The invention also relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders or diseases, wherein a glucagon antagonistic action is beneficial the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of any glucagon-mediated conditions and diseases.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of hyperglycemia.

In yet a preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a medicament for lowering blood glucose in a mammal.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of IGT.

In still another preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of Type 2 diabetes.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the delaying or prevention of the progression from IGT to Type 2 diabetes.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the delaying or prevention of the progression from non-insulin requiring Type 2 diabetes to insulin requiring Type 2 diabetes.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of Type 1 diabetes. Such treatment and/or prevention is normally accompanied by insulin therapy.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of obesity.

In yet a further preferred embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of the lipid metabolism, such as dyslipidemia.

In still a further embodiment of the invention the present compounds are used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of an appetite regulation or energy expenditure disorder.

In a further aspect of the invention the present compounds are combined with diet and/or exercise.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with one or more further active substances in any suitable ratios. Such further active agents may be selected from antidiabetic agents, antihyperlipidemic agents, antiobesity agents, antihypertensive agents and agents for the treatment of complications resulting from or associated with diabetes.

In one embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with insulin or an insulin analogue or derivative, such as NB29-tetradecanoyl des (B30) human insulin, AspB28 human insulin, LysB28 ProB29 human insulin, Lantus, or a mix-preparation comprising one or more of these.

In a further embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with a sulphonylurea eg tolbutamide, chlorpropamide, tolazamide, glibenclamide, glyburide, glipizide or glicazide.

In another embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with a biguanide eg metformin.

In yet another embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with a meglitinide eg repaglinide or nateglinide.

In still another embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with a thiazolidinedione insulin sensitizer eg troglitazone, ciglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, isaglitazone, darglitazone, englitazone, CS-011/Cl-1037 or T174 or the compounds disclosed in WO 97/41097, WO 97/41119, WO 97/41120, WO 00/41121 and WO 98/45292 (Dr. Reddy's Research Foundation).

In a further embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with an α-glucosidase inhibitor eg voglibose, emiglitate, miglitol or acarbose.

In another embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with an agent acting on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of the β-cells eg tolbutamide, chlorpropamide, tolazamide, glibenclamide, glyburide, glipizide, glicazide, BTS-67582, repaglinide or nateglinide.

In still another embodiment of the invention the present compounds are administered in combination with an antihyperlipidemic agent or antilipidemic agent eg cholestyramine, colestipol, clofibrate, gemfibrozil, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, probucol or dextrothyroxine.

In another aspect of the invention, the present compounds are administered in combination with more than one of the above-mentioned compounds eg in combination with metformin and a sulphonylurea such as glibenclamide or glyburide; a sulphonylurea and acarbose; metformin and a meglitinide such as repaglinide; acarbose and metformin; a sulfonylurea, metformin and troglitazone; a sulfonylurea, metformin and pioglitazone; a sulfonylurea, metformin and an insulin sensitizer such as disclosed in WO 00/63189 or WO 97/41097; a meglitinide such as repaglinide, metformin and troglitazone; a meglitinide such as repaglinide, metformin and pioglitazone; a meglitinide such as repaglinide, metformin and an insulin sensitizer such as disclosed in WO 00/63189 or WO 97/41097; insulin and a sulfonylurea; insulin and a meglitinide such as repaglinide; insulin and metformin; insulin, metformin and a meglitinide such as repaglinide; insulin, metformin and a sulfonylurea; insulin and troglitazone; insulin and pioglitazone; insulin and an insulin sensitizer such as such as disclosed in WO 00/63189 or WO 97/41097; insulin and lovastatin; an insulin analogue or derivative, metformin and a meglitinide such as repaglinide; an insulin analogue or derivative, metformin and a sulfonylurea; an insulin analogue or derivative and troglitazone; an insulin analogue or derivative and pioglitazone; an insulin analogue or derivative and an insulin sensitizer such as disclosed in WO 00/63189 or WO 97/41097; an insulin analogue or derivative and lovastatin; etc.

Furthermore, the compounds according to the invention may be administered in combination with one or more antiobesity agents or appetite regulating agents.

In another embodiment of the invention the antiobesity agent is dexamphetamine or amphetamine.

In another embodiment of the invention the antiobesity agent is fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine.

In still another embodiment of the invention the antiobesity agent is sibutramine.

In a further embodiment of the invention the antiobesity agent is orlistat.

In another embodiment of the invention the antiobesity agent is mazindol or phentermine.

Furthermore, the present compounds may be administered in combination with one or more antihypertensive agents. Examples of antihypertensive agents are β-blockers such as alprenolol, atenolol, timolol, pindolol, propranolol and metoprolol, ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors such as benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, quinapril and ramipril, calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine, felodipine, nicardipine, isradipine, nimodipine, diltiazem and verapamil, and cc-blockers such as doxazosin, urapidil, prazosin and terazosin. Further reference can be made to Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th Edition, Gennaro, Ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1995.

It should be understood that any suitable combination of the compounds according to the invention with diet and/or exercise, one or more of the above-mentioned compounds and optionally one or more other active substances are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS

The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients, in either single or multiple doses. The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may be formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents as well as any other known adjuvants and excipients in accordance with conventional techniques such as those disclosed in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th Edition, Gennaro, Ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1995.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be specifically formulated for administration by any suitable route such as the oral, rectal, nasal, pulmonary, topical (including buccal and sublingual), transdermal, intracisternal, intraperitoneal, vaginal and parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intrathecal, intravenous and intradermal) route, the oral route being preferred. It will be appreciated that the preferred route will depend on the general condition and age of the subject to be treated, the nature of the condition to be treated and the active ingredient chosen.

Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration include solid dosage forms such as capsules, tablets, dragees, pills, lozenges, powders and granules. Where appropriate, they can be prepared with coatings such as enteric coatings or they can be formulated so as to provide controlled release of the active ingredient such as sustained or prolonged release according to methods well known in the art.

Pharmaceutical compositions for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous and non-aqueous injectable solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions as well as sterile powders to be reconstituted in sterile injectable solutions or dispersions prior to use. Depot injectable formulations are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.

A typical oral dosage is in the range of from about 0.001 to about 100 mg/kg body weight per day, preferably from about 0.01 to about 50 mg/kg body weight per day, and more preferred from about 0.05 to about 10 mg/kg body weight per day administered in one or more dosages such as 1 to 3 dosages. The exact dosage will depend upon the frequency and mode of administration, the sex, age, weight and general condition of the subject treated, the nature and severity of the condition treated and any concomitant diseases to be treated and other factors evident to those skilled in the art.

The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form by methods known to those skilled in the art. A typical unit dosage form for oral administration one or more times per day such as 1 to 3 times per day may contain from 0.05 to about 1000 mg, preferably from about 0.1 to about 500 mg, and more preferred from about 0.5 mg to about 200 mg.

For parenteral routes such as intravenous, intrathecal, intramuscular and similar administration, typically doses are in the order of about half the dose employed for oral administration.

The compounds of this invention are generally utilized as the free substance or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. One example is a base addition salt of a compound having the utility of a free acid. When a compound of the formula (I) contains a free acid such salts are prepared in a conventional manner by treating a solution or suspension of a free acid of the formula (I) with a chemical equivalent of a pharmaceutically acceptable base. Representative examples are mentioned above.

For parenteral administration, solutions of the novel compounds of the formula (I) in sterile aqueous solution, aqueous propylene glycol, aqueous vitamin E or sesame or peanut oil may be employed. Such aqueous solutions should be suitably buffered if necessary and the liquid diluent first rendered isotonic with sufficient saline or glucose. The aqueous solutions are particularly suitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration. The sterile aqueous media employed are all readily available by standard techniques known to those skilled in the art.

Suitable pharmaceutical carriers include inert solid diluents or fillers, sterile aqueous solution and various organic solvents. Examples of solid carriers are lactose, terra alba, sucrose, cyclodextrin, talc, gelatine, agar, pectin, acacia, magnesium stearate, stearic acid and lower alkyl ethers of cellulose. Examples of liquid carriers are syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, phospho-lipids, fatty acids, fatty acid amines, polyoxyethylene and water. Similarly, the carrier or diluent may include any sustained release material known in the art, such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate, alone or mixed with a wax. The pharmaceutical compositions formed by combining the novel compounds of the formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are then readily administered in a variety of dosage forms suitable for the disclosed routes of administration. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form by methods known in the art of pharmacy.

Formulations of the present invention suitable for oral administration may be presented as discrete units such as capsules or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient, and which may include a suitable excipient. Furthermore, the orally available formulations may be in the form of a powder or granules, a solution or suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, or an oil-in-water or water-in-oil liquid emulsion.

If a solid carrier is used for oral administration, the preparation may be tabletted, placed in a hard gelatine capsule in powder or pellet form or it can be in the form of a troche or lozenge. The amount of solid carrier will vary widely but will usually be from about 25 mg to about 1 g. If a liquid carrier is used, the preparation may be in the form of a syrup, emulsion, soft gelatine capsule or sterile injectable liquid such as an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid suspension or solution.

A typical tablet that may be prepared by conventional tabletting techniques may contain:

Core:

Active compound (as free compound or salt thereof)

5.0 mg

Lactosum Ph. Eur.

67.8 mg

Cellulose, microcryst. (Avicel)

31.4 mg

Amberlite ® IRP88*

1.0 mg

Magnesii stearas Ph. Eur.

q.s.

Coating:

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

approx.

9 mg

Mywacett 9-40 T**

approx.

0.9 mg

*Polacrillin potassium NF, tablet disintegrant, Rohm and Haas.

**Acylated monoglyceride used as plasticizer for film coating.

If desired, the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may comprise the compound of the formula (I) in combination with further pharmacologically active substances such as those described in the foregoing.

EXAMPLES

The following examples and general procedures refer to intermediate compounds and final products identified in the specification and in the synthesis schemes. The preparation of the compounds of the present invention is described in detail using the following examples, but the chemical reactions described are disclosed in terms of their general applicability to the preparation of the glucagon antagonists of the invention. Occasionally, the reaction may not be applicable as described to each compound included within the disclosed scope of the invention. The compounds for which this occurs will be readily recognised by those skilled in the art. In these cases the reactions can be successfully performed by conventional modifications known to those skilled in the art, that is, by appropriate protection of interfering groups, by changing to other conventional reagents, or by routine modification of reaction conditions. Alternatively, other reactions disclosed herein or otherwise conventional will be applicable to the preparation of the corresponding compounds of the invention. In all preparative methods, all starting materials are known or may easily be prepared from known starting materials. All temperatures are set forth in degrees Celsius and unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight when referring to yields and all parts are by volume when referring to solvents and eluents.

Some of the NMR data shown in the following examples are only selected data.

In the examples and pharmacological methods the following terms are intended to have the following meanings:

DCM:

dichloromethane

DMF:

N,N-dimethylformamide

DMSO:

dimethyl sulphoxide

M.p.:

melting point

TFA:

trifluoroacetic acid

THF:

tetrahydrofuran

EDAC:

1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride

HOBt:

1-hydroxybenzotriazole

HOAt:

3-hydroxy-3H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-b]pyridine, also denoted 1-

hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole

EGTA:

ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N′,N′-tetracetic acid

BSA:

N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetimidate

IBMX:

isobutylmethylxanthine

HPLC-MS (Method A)

The following instrumentation was used:

Sciex API 100 Single quadropole mass spectrometer

Perkin Elmer Series 200 Quard pump

Perkin Elmer Series 200 autosampler

Applied Biosystems 785A UV detector

Sedex 55 evaporative light scattering detector

A Valco column switch with a Valco actuator controlled by timed events from the pump.

The Sciex Sample control software running on a Macintosh PowerPC 7200 computer was used for the instrument control and data acquisition.

The HPLC pump was connected to four eluent reservoirs containing:

A:

acetonitrile

B:

water

C:

0.5% TFA in water

D:

0.02 M ammonium acetate

The requirements for samples are that they contain approximately 500 μg/mL of the compound to be analysed in an acceptable solvent such as methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, THF, water and mixtures thereof. (High concentrations of strongly eluting solvents will interfere with the chromatography at low acetonitrile concentrations.)

The analysis was performed at room temperature by injecting 20 μL of the sample solution on the column, which was eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile in either 0.05% TFA or 0.002 M ammonium acetate. Depending on the analysis method varying elution conditions were used.

The eluate from the column was passed through a flow splitting T-connector, which passed approximately 20 μL/min through approx. 1 m. 75μ fused silica capillary to the API interface of API 100 spectrometer.

The remaining 1.48 mL/min was passed through the UV detector and to the ELS detector.

During the LC-analysis the detection data were acquired concurrently from the mass spectrometer, the UV detector and the ELS detector.

The LC conditions, detector settings and mass spectrometer settings used for the different methods are given in the following table.

Column

YMC ODS-A 120Å s-5μ 3 mm × 5 mm id

Gradient

5%-90% acetonitrile in 0.05% TFA linearly during 7.5 min

at 1.5 mL/min

Detection

UV: 214 nm

ELS: 40° C.

MS

Experiment:

Start: 100 amu Stop: 800 amu Step: 0.2 amu

Dwell:

0.571 msec

Method:

Scan 284 times = 9.5 min

HPLC-MS (Method B)

The following instrumentation was used:

Hewlett Packard series 1100 G1312A Bin Pump

Hewlett Packard series 1100 Column compartment

Hewlett Packard series 1100 G1315A DAD diode array detector

Hewlett Packard series 1100 MSD

The instrument was controlled by HP Chemstation software.

The HPLC pump was connected to two eluent reservoirs containing:

A:

0.01% TFA in water

B:

0.01% TFA in acetonitrile

The analysis was performed at 40° C. by injecting an appropriate volume of the sample (preferably 1 μL) onto the column, which was eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile.

The HPLC conditions, detector settings and mass spectrometer settings used are given in the following table.

Column

Waters Xterra MS C-18 × 3 mm id

Gradient

10%-100% acetonitrile linearly during 7.5 min at 1.0 mL/min

Detection

UV: 210 nm (analog output from DAD)

MS

Ionisation mode: API-ES

Scan 100-1000 amu step 0.1 amu

HPLC-MS (Method C)

The following instrumentation was used:

Hewlett Packard series 1100 G1312A Bin Pump

Hewlett Packard series 1100 G 1315A DAD diode array detector

Sciex 300 triplequadropole mass spectrometer

Gilson 215 micro injector

Sedex 55 evaporative light scattering detector

Pumps and detectors were controlled by MassChrom 1.1.1 software running on a Macintosh G3 computer. Gilson Unipoint Version 1.90 controls the auto-injector.

The HPLC pump was connected to two eluent reservoirs containing:

A:

0.01% TFA in water

B:

0.01% TFA in acetonitrile

The analysis was performed at room temperature by injecting an appropriate volume of the sample (preferably 1 μL) onto the column that was eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile.

The HPLC conditions, detector settings and mass spectrometer settings are given in the following table.

Column

YMC ODS-A 120Å s-5μ 3 mm × 50 mm id

Gradient

5%-90% acetonitrile linearly during 7.5 min at 1.5 mL/min

Detection

210 nm (analog output from DAD)

MS

Ionisation mode: API-ES

Scan 100-1000 amu step 0.1 amu

Preparation of Building Blocks Used in the Following Examples

Building block 1: (RS)-Isoserine Ethyl Ester Hydrochloride

Dry ethanol (40 mL) was cooled on an ice bath and thionyl chloride (4 mL) was added dropwise maintaining the temperature below 5° C. To this cold solution was added (RS)-isoserine (2.5 g, 23.79 mmol) and stirring was continued until a homogeneous solution was obtained. The ice bath was removed and stirring was continued for 17 hours at room temperature. The solution was concentrated in vacuo to afford 4.0 g (100%) of (RS)-isoserine ethyl ester hydrochloride as an oil.

Building Block 2: (R)-Isoserine Ethyl Ester Hydrochloride

Step A: (R)-(2,2-Dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl)acetic Acid

To a suspension of D-(+)-malic acid (15.0 g, 0.1119 mol) in dry toluene (150 mL) was added 2,2-dimethoxypropane (50 mL, 0.392 mmol). The mixture was refluxed at 100° C. for 2 hours and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in diethyl ether (150 mL) and subjected to flash column chromatography using diethyl ether as eluent (200 mL). The pure fractions were pooled and evaporated in vacuo and the residue was stirred in n-hexane. The precipitate was collected, washed with n-hexane and dried to afford 15.7 g (81%) of (R)-(2,2-di-methyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl)acetic acid as a solid.

A mixture of (R)-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl)acetic acid (10.0 g, 57.41 mmol), triethylamine (10 mL, 68.89 mmol) and diphenylphosphoryl azide (14 mL, 63.15 mmol) in dry toluene (100 mL) was heated and stirred at 85° C. When the gas evolution had ceased stirring was continued for an additional hour. Dry benzyl alcohol (6.3 mL, 63.15 mmol) was added and heating was continued for 17 hours. After evaporation in vacuo, the residue was partitioned between dichloromethane, water and brine. The aqueous phase was further extracted twice with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases were washed twice with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate. After drying (magnesium sulphate), filtration, and concentration in vacuo of the organic phase, the residue was subjected to flash column chromatography with dichloromethane as eluent. This afforded 6.4 g (40%) of (R)-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethyl)carbamic acid benzyl ester as an oil.

Step C: (R)-3-Benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxypropionic Acid

To a solution of (R)-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethyl)carbamic Acid Benzyl Ester (6.0 g, 25.08 mmol) in acetonitrile (100 mL) was added hydrochloric acid, (1 N, 100 mL). The mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 40° C. and concentrated in vacuo to half the original volume. The solid was collected by filtration and washed with water. The crude product was stirred for 5 min in acetone (100 mL) and filtered. Toluene was added to the clear and colorless filtrate and the whole was concentrated in vacuo until a precipitate was obtained. The precipitate was collected by filtration and dried to afford 4.45 g (87%) of (R)-3-benzyloxy-carbonylamino-2-hydroxypropionic acid.

Step D: (R)-Isoserine

(R)-3-Benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxypropionic acid (4.4 g, 18.39 mmol) was dissolved in absolute ethanol (150 mL). Under a nitrogen atmosphere palladium on activated carbon (10%, 0.5 g) was added, and the mixture was hydrogenated at 1 atmosphere for 17 hours. The catalyst was filtered off and washed with water. The combined filtrate and washings were concentrated to about 20 mL by evaporation in vacuo. A precipitate was obtained by drop-wise addition of methanol (100 mL). The precipitate was filtered off, washed with methanol and dried to afford 1.78 g (92%) of (R)-isoserine as a solid.

Step A: (S)-(2,2-Dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]-dioxolan-4-yl)acetic Acid

To a suspension of L-malic acid (3 g, 22.4 mmol) in toluene (25 mL) was added 2,2-dimethoxypropane (8.5 g, 81 mmol). The suspension was heated to reflux for 20 min. The solvent was removed by evaporation in vacuo to afford (S)-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo [1,3]-4-yl)-acetic acid.

The crude (S)-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethyl)carbamic acid benzyl ester (976 mg, 3.5 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (14 mL), and palladium (10% on activated charcoal, 300 mg) and 1,3-cyclohexadiene (2.8 g, 35 mmol) were added and the reaction was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature, and heated to 40° C. for 10 min. After filtration, TFA (0.4 g, 3.5 mmol) was added and the solvent was removed by evaporation to afford crude (S)-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethylammonium trifluoroacetate as an oil.

Building block 4: 3-Amino-2-fluoropropionic Acid Methyl Ester

Dry methanol (5.3 mL) was cooled to −15° C. on an ice bath and thionyl chloride (2.5 mL) was added dropwise maintaining the temperature below 5° C. To this cold solution was added (RS)-3-amino-2-fluoropropionic acid (0.27 g, 2.52 mmol) and stirring was continued until a homogeneous solution was obtained. The ice bath was removed and stirring was continued for 17 hours at room temperature. The solution was concentrated in vacuo and further co-evaporated three times with dry methanol. The residue was filtered off, washed with DCM and dried to afford 0.13 g (33%) of 3-amino-2-fluoropropionic acid methyl ester hydrochloride as a solid.

Step (A): (R)-2-Hydroxysuccinic Acid Dimethyl Ester

To an ice cooled solution of methanol (250 mL) was added acetyl chloride (12.5 mL), and the solution was stirred for 1 hour at 0° C. (R)-Malic acid (20.0 g) was added, and the solution was stirred for 16 hours at room temperature. Solvent was removed by evaporation in vacuo leaving a quantitative yield of (R)-2-hydroxysuccinic acid dimethyl ester as an oil.

Step (B): (R)-2-Methoxysuccinic Acid Dimethyl Ester

The above (R)-2-hydroxysuccinic acid dimethyl ester was re-dissolved in methyl iodide (100 mL), freshly prepared silver oxide (30.2 g) was added and the mixture was stirred for 24 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with acetonitrile (200 mL), and filtered through celite to remove silver salts and excess silver hydroxide. The filtrate was taken to dryness to leave (R)-2-methoxysuccinic acid dimethyl ester as an oil (23.2 g, 88%).

Step (C): (R)-2-Methoxysuccinic Acid 1-methyl Ester

The above (R)-2-methoxysuccinic acid dimethyl ester was suspended in 2 N aqueous hydrochloric acid, and heated to reflux for 30 min to give a clear solution. Upon evaporation of solvent in vacuo a quantitative yield of 2(R)-methoxysuccinic acid was obtained as an oil. The oil was redissolved in acetic anhydride (120 mL) and heated to 110° C. for 2 hours. Solvent was removed by rotary evaporation to leave an oil. Ice cooled methanol (150 mL) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 0° C. followed by 16 hours at room temperature. The solvent was removed to leave (R)-2-methoxysuccinic acid 1-methyl ester.

Without further purification, the above (R)-2-methoxysuccinic acid 1-methyl ester (5.0 g, 30.8 mmol) was dissolved in thionyl chloride (16 mL), and heated to reflux for 2 hours Thionyl chloride and traces thereof was removed by rotary evaporation followed by co-evaporation with acetonitrile.

The neat acid chloride was dissolved in toluene (50 mL). Trimethylsilylazide (5.0 mL, 38.2 mmol) was added and the mixture was heated to 100° C. overnight. Then tert-butanol (30 mL) was added, and heating was continued for an additional 16 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled and insoluble material was removed by filtration. The organic phase was washed with water (100 mL), saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (100 mL), 10% citric acid solution (100 mL), water (100 mL) and saturated sodium chloride solution (100 mL), then dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate. Solvent was removed by rotary evaporation. The residual oil was further purified by column chromatography using 20% ethyl acetate/heptane as eluent. Pure fractions (TLC plates were stained with ammonium molybdate/cerium sulphate/sulphuric acid) were pooled and taken to dryness. The final yield of 3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2(R)-methoxypropionic acid methyl ester was 600 mg (9%).

To (R)-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl)acetic acid (5.88 g, 33.8 mmol) was added toluene (100 mL), triethylamine (4.7 mL, 33.8 mmol) and diphenoxyphosphoryl azide (8.0 mL, 37.2 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to a 100° C and stirred under nitrogen at this temperature for 1.5 hour. 9-Fluorenemethanol (5.1 g, 26 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 6 hours. After cooling to room temperature the mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel and washed with water (2×50 mL). The solvent was removed in vacuo and co-evaporated with acetonitrile (100 mL). The remaining light brown oil was dissolved in DCM (20 mL) and purified on silica gel column with DCM as eluent. The DCM was removed by evaporation to yield a light yellow oil, which was redissolved in acetonitrile (150 mL) and aqueous hydrochloric acid was added (1 N, 75 mL). The yellow reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature. The solvent was removed in vacuo, toluene (100 mL) was added and the suspension was heated to reflux and allowed to cool to room temperature. (R)-Fmoc-isoserine (3.1 g, 28%) was isolated as a powder by filtration. Mp: 165-166° C.

Step A: 5-Nitro-2-trifluoromethoxybenzoic Acid Methyl Ester

In a three-necked round bottom flask, equipped with a thermometer and a separatory funnel, HNO3 (5 mL fuming, 100%) was cooled in an ice bath. Methyl 2-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (5 g, 22.7 mmol) was slowly added to the cooled HNO3 within 0.5 hour while keeping the temperature below 15° C. The reaction was then stirred at 60° C. for 1 hour and 2 hours at room temperature. The mixture was added to ice water and an oil separated. The oily residue was added water (50 mL), neutralised with an aqueous solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate and then extracted with ethyl acetate (25 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL) once more. The combined organic phases were washed with saturated sodium chloride (2×15 mL), dried (magnesium sulphate), and concentrated in vacuo to give 5.69 g of 5-nitro-2-trifluoromethoxybenzoic acid methyl ester.

Step C: (5-Amino-2-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)methanol

5-Amino-2-trifluoromethoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (3.0 g, 12.8 mmol) was dissolved under nitrogen in THF (20 mL) in a three-necked flask equipped with a thermometer and a separatory funnel. With stirring and ice-cooling lithium aluminium hydride (1 M in THF, 15 mL) was added dropwise over 10 min. Stirring was continued at room temperature for 1 hour, and the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in DCM (150 mL) and water (50 mL), and filtered through celite. The filtrate was partitioned between DCM and water. The combined organic phases were washed with water (2×20 mL), dried (magnesium sulphate) and concentrated in vacuo to give 2.47 g of (5-amino-2-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)methanol

Building block 9: 4-Cyclohexylaniline

This compound is commercially available (e.g. from Lancaster or Avocado).

Building block 10: 4-Cyclohexylcyclohexylamine

The preparation of this compound is described in the literature, see H. Booth et al., J. Chem. Soc. (B), 1971,1047-1050.

Building block 11: 4-(2-Methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline and (R,S)-4-(6-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline

A mixture of 2-methyl-cyclohexanone (112 g, 1,0 mol), aniline (186 g, 2 mol) and ethanol (26 mL) was stirred at room temperature and 12 M hydrochloric acid (167 mL) was added during 30 min. The dark yellow solution was refluxed at 85° C. for seven days. The solution was cooled and diluted with ethyl acetate. The mixture was stirred in an ice bath and made alkaline (pH=9) with a 27% sodium hydroxide solution, keeping the temperature below 30° C.

The organic layer was separated and washed with brine (3 x), dried over magnesium sulphate, and concentrated to give a brown oil (131 g). Excess of aniline was removed under reduced pressure. A catalytic amount of 12 M hydrochloric acid (1 mL) was added, and the residue was fractionated under high vacuum. The fraction distilling at 145-175° C. (0,2 mmHg) was collected and subjected to column chromatography (silica gel) and eluated with 30% ethyl acetate/toluene to afford a 9:1 mixture (8.7 g) of 4-(2-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline and (R, S)-4-(6-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline, respectively.

Building block 13: (R,S)-4-(5-Methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline and (R,S)-4-(3-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline

A mixture of (R,S)-3-methylcyclohexanone (123 mL, 1.0 mol), aniline (182 mL, 2.0 mol), 12 M hydrochloric acid (167 mL, 2.0 mol), and ethanol (26 mL) was refluxed at 90° C. for ten days. The solution was cooled and diluted with ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was made alkaline (pH=10) with a 6 M sodium hydroxide solution. The organic layer was separated and washed with brine (3 x), dried over magnesium sulphate, and concentrated to give a brown oil. Excess of aniline was removed under reduced pressure. A catalytic amount of 12 M hydrochloric acid (1 mL) was added, and the residue was fractionated under high vacuum. The fraction distilling at 123-128° C. (0.15-0.20 mmHg) was collected to afford 21.0 g of an oil. 1H-NMR showed presence of a 3:2 mixture of (R,S)-4-(5-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline and (R,S)-4-(3-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline, respectively.

General procedure (A) for Solution Phase Synthesis of Compounds of the General Formulae (Ia) and (Ib):

wherein R2, R3, R7, R8, A, E and D are as defined for formula (I).

Compounds made according to this general procedure (A) can either be prepared via the ester route or the carboxylic acid route. The only difference between these two routes is the protection of the benzoic acid as an ester. The deprotection of the ester (step 2a) provides intermediates identical with those of the carboxylic acid route.

This procedure according to the ester route is illustrated in examples 1 and 2 and according to the carboxylic acid route in example 3.

Example 1

(General Procedure (A)

Step 1: 4-((4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl)benzoic Acid Methyl Ester

4-Formylbenzoic acid methyl ester (6.65 g, 40.5 mmol) was dissolved in hot methanol (175 mL). To this mixture, 4-cyclohexylaniline (7.1 g, 40.5 mmol) was added. To the resulting suspension, more methanol (75 mL) was added and the mixture was heated at reflux for 1 hour. After cooling to 0° C., the mixture was filtered and the solid was washed with ice-cold methanol and dried in vacuo at 40° C. for 16 hours to afford 10.95 g of 4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylimino)-methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester. This compound (10.93 g, 34 mmol) was suspended in methanol (200 mL) and glacial acetic acid (27 mL) was added followed by sodium cyano borohydride (1.9 g, 30 mmol) in small portions. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in DCM (200 mL) and washed with 5% aqueous sodium carbonate (5×80 mL), dried (magnesium sulphate) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was added ethyl acetate (100 mL) and n-heptane (200 mL) and concentrated in vacuo to half the original volume. The solid was filtered, washed with n-heptane and dried in vacuo at 40° C. for 16 hours to afford 9.52 g (87%) of 4-((4-cyclo-hexylphenylamino)methyl)benzoic acid methyl ester.

5-Methoxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (2.0 g, 10.5 mmol) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (10 mL), and dry HCl in ethyl acetate (15 mL) was added and the solvent was removed in vacuo.

The solid was co-evaporated with toluene (3×15 mL). Toluene (75 mL) and diphosgene (13 mL) were added and the reaction mixture was refluxed under a nitrogen atmosphere for 2.5 hours. Excess diphosgene was removed in vacuo and the clear oil was co-evaporated with toluene. The obtained isocyanate was used without further purification.

The above isocyanate was dissolved in DCM (75 mL) and 4-((4-cyclohexylphenylamino)-methyl)benzoic acid methyl ester (2.3 g, 7.1 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, the solvent was removed in vacuo and the residual oil was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, eluting with a mixture of heptane and ethyl acetate (7:3). This afforded 3 g of 4-[1-(cyclohexylphenyl)-3-(3-methoxy-5-trifluoro-methylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid methyl ester as an oil.

Step 4

(R)-3-{4-[1-(4-Cyclohexylphenyl)-3-(3-methoxy-5-trifluoromethylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoyl-amino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid ethyl ester was dissolved in ethanol (15 mL) and sodium hydroxide (2 N, 2 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 60 min. Then ethanol was removed in vacuo, water (50 mL) was added and pH was adjusted with 4 N hydrochloric acid to acidic reaction. Filtration and washing with water (5×5 mL) and drying in vacuo afforded 460 mg of the title compound as a crystalline solid.

Example 3

General Procedure (A)

Step 1: 4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid

4-Cyclohexylaniline (8.0 g, 53 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (200 mL) and a suspension of 4-formylbenzoic acid (9.4 g, 53 mmol) in glacial acetic acid (12 mL) was added in portions and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux temperature for 1.5 hour. After cooling to room temperature a mixture of sodium cyano borohydride (5.0 g, 80 mmol) in methanol (100 mL) was added in portions, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. The mixture was filtered and washed thoroughly with water and dried in vacuo at 50° C. for 3 days to afford 12.8 g (78%) of 4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid.

3-Bromoaniline (1.4 g, 8.1 mmol) was dissolved in diethyl ether (50 mL) and 3.5 M dry HCl in ethyl acetate (2.3 mL) was added. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was added toluene (100 mL) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was added toluene (100 mL) and diphosgene (8.1 g, 41 mmol) and the resulting mixture was refluxed for 1.5 hour. After cooling, the mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in toluene (100 mL) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in DMF (30 mL) and 4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid (1.3 g, 4.1 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. The mixture was added ethyl acetate (150 mL) and washed with water:brine (1:1) (2×100 mL). The organic phase was dried with sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel eluting first with a mixture of ethyl acetate:n-heptane:triethylamine (7:2:1), then with ethyl acetate and finally with methanol to afford 1.95 g (94%) of 4-[3-(3-bromophenyl)-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid.

HPLC-MS (Method B): m/z=624 (M+1); Rt=5.33 min.

(R)-3-{4-[3-(3-Bromophenyl)-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid ethyl ester (100 mg) was dissolved in ethanol (10 mL), 1 N sodium hydroxide (480 μL) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. 1 N Hydrochloric acid (480 μL) was added and the mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in water (50 mL) and filtered to afford 38 mg of the title compound.

trans-4-[(4-tert-Butylcyclohexylimino)methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester (21.0 g, 69.2 mmol) was suspended in methanol (300 mL), and acetic acid (50 mL) was added. To the resulting clear solution was added sodium cyanoborohydride (3.5 g, 55.5 mmol), and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 30 min. The reaction volume was then reduced to one third by rotary evaporation, and ethyl acetate (500 mL) was added. The organic phase was washed with sodium carbonate solution (5%, 500 mL), and dried with sodium sulphate. The solvent was removed by rotary evaporation to leave the title material as a white crystalline solid sufficiently pure for further reactions. Yield: 21.1 g (100%).

Step 2

The above benzoic acid methyl ester (0.73 g, 2.44 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (7 mL) and 4-trifluoromethoxyphenylisocyanate (405 μL, 2.68 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours and then refluxed for 1.5 hour. After cooling and concentration in vacuo, the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, eluting first with a mixture of ethyl acetate and heptane (1:6), then with a mixture of ethyl acetate and heptane (1:3) to afford 1.14 g (94%) of 4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid methyl ester as an oil.

Step 4

A solution of 3-{4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoyl-amino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid ethyl ester was stirred in absolute ethanol (20 mL) and 1 M sodium hydroxide (6 mL) was added. Stirring was continued for 17 hours and the solution was acidified with aqueous hydrochloric acid. The solvent was decanted and the remaining oil was dissolved in acetonitrile (20 mL) by heating. Water (20 mL) was added dropwise under vigorous stirring and the mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with water and dried to afford 0.51 g (43%) of the title compound as a solid.

A solution of (RS)-3-{4-[1-(4-cyclohex-1-enylphenyl)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ureidomethyl]-benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid ethyl ester (0.99 g, 1.61 mmol) in ethanol (15 mL) and THF (15 mL) was stirred and 1 M sodium hydroxide (6 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred at 40° C. for 4 hours and acidified with 1 N hydrochloric acid. After evaporation in vacuo the residue was purified on semipreperative HPLC (Gilson system). The pure fractions were combined and evaporated in vacuo to afford 0.749 (79%) of the title compound as a solid.

Example 18

4-[1-(4-Cyclohex-1-enylphenyl)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid (130 mg, 0.26 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (2 mL), then EDAC (50 mg, 0.26 mmol) and HOBt (43 mg, 0.32 mmol) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The above crude (S)-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethylammonium trifluoroacetate was dissolved in DMF (1 mL) and added to the reaction mixture together with diisopropylethylamine (450 mg, 3.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours.

The reaction mixture was transferred to a silica gel column and eluted with DCM to afford crude (S)-4-[1-(4-cyclohex-1-enylphenyl)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ureidomethyl]-N-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethyl)benzamide as an oil after evaporation. The oil was redissolved in acetonitrile (5 mL), hydrochloric acid (1 N, 5 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hour. The solvent was removed by evaporation and the crude product was purified on semipreperative HPLC (acetonitrile/water gradient) to afford the title compound.

Step 4

A solution of (R)-3-{4-[1-(4-cyclohex-1-enylphenyl)-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ureidomethyl]-benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid ethyl ester (0.60 g, 0.98 mmol) in ethanol (5 mL) and THF (5 mL) was stirred and 4 N sodium hydroxide (0.76 mL, 2.94 mmol) was added. The solution was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature and then acidified with 1 N hydrochloric acid. Evaporation in vacuo afforded an oil, which was partitioned between ethyl acetate, water and brine. The aqueous phase was extracted twice with ethyl acetate and the combined organic phases were washed with water and brine. Drying (magnesium sulphate), filtration, and evaporation in vacuo afforded 0.43 g (73%) of the title compound as a solid. 5.11 min.

4-((4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl)benzoic acid methyl ester (0.32 g, 1 mmol) was suspended in acetonitrile (5 mL) and 4-(trifluoromethylthio)phenyl isocyanate (0.24 g, 1.1 mmol) was added. Additional amounts (0.05 g) of the isocyanate was added after the first day and again after the second day (0.05 g). The reaction was stopped on the third day and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (30 g) using ethyl acetate: n-heptane (400 mL 1:4 and 100 mL 1:1) as eluent to afford 0.53 g of 4-[1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethylsulfanylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid methyl ester.

4-[1-(4-Cyclohexylphenyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethylsulfanylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid methyl ester (0.53 g, 0.98 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (96%, 11 mL) and sodium hydroxide (4 N, 1.47 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction was concentrated to dryness and added water (15 mL) and acidified with hydrochloric acid (4 N, 1.6 mL) to pH 2-3 and extracted with ethyl acetate (25 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted once more with ethyl acetate (15 mL) and the combined organic phases were washed 3 times with water (10 mL), dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Crystallisation from ethyl acetate:n-heptane gave 0.34 g of 4-[1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethylsulfanylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid.

3-Methylsulfonyl-4-trifluoromethoxynitrobenzene (17.5 g) was dissolved in methanol (400 mL) followed by addition of palladium on carbon (10%, 50% water, 3.2 g). The reaction mixture was hydrogenated for 17 hours at 1 atm of hydrogen, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 14.3 g of 3-methylsulfonyl-4-trifluoromethoxyaniline.

To 3-methylsulfonyl-4-trifluoromethoxyaniline (2.0 mmol, 500 mg) dissolved in ethyl acetate (6 mL) was added 3 N hydrochloric acid in ethyl acetate (5 mL) followed by concentration in vacuo. The residue was treated with toluene (3×5 mL) and each time concentrated in vacuo. To the residue was added toluene (10 mL) and diphosgene (6 mmol, 0.73 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere and the suspension was gently refluxed for 2 hours. Additional diphosgene (6 mmol, 0.73 mL) was added and refluxing was continued overnight. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo to afford 3-methylsulfonyl-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl isocyanate.

Example 31

General Procedure (A)

Step 3

4-[1-(4-Cyclohex-1-enylphenyl)-3-(3,5-dichloro-phenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid (500 mg, 1.0 mmol), HOBt (184 mg, 1.2 mmol) and EDAC (232 mg; 1.2 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of DCM (4.0 mL) and DMF (1.0 mL). The clear solution was stirred at ambient temperature for 1 hour. A solution of 3-amino-2(R)-methoxypropionic acid methyl ester hydrochloride (257 mg, 1.5 mmol) in DCM (2.0 mL) and DMF (0.2 mL) was added followed by diisopropylethylamine (515 μL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight, then diluted with DCM (40 mL) and washed once with a mixture of saturated sodium chloride/water (1:2). The organic phase was dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate and taken to dryness in vacuo.

Step 4

The oil was dissolved in a mixture of THF (4.0 mL) and methanol (4.0 mL). 4 N Aqueous sodium hydroxide was added (625 μL, 2.5 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The pH was adjusted to 3.0 with 1 N hydrochloric acid, then solvent was removed. The product was re-dissolved in ethyl acetate (20 mL) and washed once with water (20 mL). The water phase was back-extracted once with ethyl acetate (10 mL) and the combined organic extracts were washed with sodium chloride (2×20 mL) and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate. After removal of solvent, 230 mg (67%) of pure title compound was obtained.

Using the mixture of 4-(2-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline and (R,S)-4-(6-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline (building block 11) and (R)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester (building block 5) according to the general procedure (A) the title compounds was obtained.

Example 33

General Procedure (A)

Using 4-(4-tert-butylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline (building block 12) and (R)-3-amino-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester (building block 5) according to the general procedure (A) the title compound was obtained.

Using the mixture of (R,S)-4-(5-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline and (R,S)-4-(3-methylcyclohex-1-enyl)aniline (building block 13) according to the general procedure (A) gave a mixture (6:4) of the title compounds.

Example 35

4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester

Methyl 4-formylbenzoate (47 g, 285 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (400 mL) and a solution of 4-cyclohexylaniline (50 g, 0.285 mmol) in methanol (200 mL) is slowly added with mechanical stirring. More methanol (1 L) was added and the suspension was stirred at room temperature for 3 days. Filtration, washing and drying in vacuo afforded 90.7 g (99%) of 4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylimino)methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester. This was dissolved in N-methylpyrrolidone (855 mL) and methanol (45 mL). With mechanical stirring sodium borohydride pellets (42.4 g, 1.12 mol) was added in portions keeping the temperature below 40° C. The mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and at 40° C. for 16 hours. The mixture was cooled to 5° C. and water (2 L) was slowly added. Then acetone (350 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at 5° C. for 1 hour. Filtration, washing with water (2×500 mL) and drying in vacuo afforded 78 g (86%) of 4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylamino)-methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester as a solid.

4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester (75 g, 0.23 mol) was dissolved in THF (750 mL). Diisopropylethylamine (56.0 mL, 0.32 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (1.0 g; 8.1 mmol) were added. The solution was cooled to 5° C. Bis(trichloromethyl)-carbonate (28.0 g, 0.093 mol) was added in small portions while maintaining the internal reaction temperature below 10° C. The mixture was stirred for a further 2 hours at 10° C., and then transferred to a separatory funnel. Ethyl acetate (800 mL) and water (1000 mL) were added. After mixing, the organic layer was separated, dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrated to dryness by rotary evaporation in vacuo. The product was obtained quantitatively as a stable hard crystalline material.

4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester (75 g, 0.23 mol) was dissolved in THF (750 mL). Diisopropylethylamine (56.0 mL, 0.32 mmol) and 4-dimethylamino-pyridine (1.0 g, 8.1 mmol) were added. The solution was cooled to 5° C. Bis(trichloromethyl)-carbonate (28.0 g, 0.093 mol) was added in small portions while maintaining the internal reaction temperature below 10° C. The mixture was stirred for a further 2 hours at 10° C., and then transferred to a separatory funnel. Ethyl acetate (800 mL) and water (1000 mL) were added. After mixing, the organic layer was separated, dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, and concentrated to dryness by rotary evaporation in vacuo. The product was obtained quantitatively as a stable hard crystalline material.

4-[3-[1(S)-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoic acid (200 mg, 0.4 mmol), HOBt (75 mg, 0.5 mmol), and EDAC (94 mg, 0.5 mmol) were dissolved in a mixture of DMF (200 μL) and DCM (2 mL). The clear solution was stirred at room temperature for 90 min. A solution of R-isoserine methyl ester hydrochloride (95 mg, 0.6 mmol) in a mixture of DCM (1.0 mL) and DMF (0.4 mL) was added, and the reaction mixture was left stirring at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was partitioned between DCM (20 mL) and water (20 mL). The organic phase was separated and washed with a mixture of brine and water (1:2), dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate and evaporated to dryness. The residue was subsequently evaporated from acetonitrile, to give a quantitative yield of title material.

3-{4-[3-[1(S)-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2(R)-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester (280 mg, 0.473 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of THF (2.5 mL) and methanol (2.5 mL) and 4 N aqueous sodium hydroxide (0.355 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The pH was adjusted to 3.0 by addition of 1 N hydrochloric acid. Solvent was removed by rotary evaporation in vacuo and the residue re-dissolved in ethyl acetate (10 mL). The organic phase was washed twice with water and once with brine, and then concentrated to dryness in vacuo leaving the title compound as a powder. Yield: 168 mg (89%).

Example 36

This compound was prepared similarly as described in example 35 from N-chlorocarbamoyl-4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoic acid methyl ester and biphenyl-2-ylmethylamine followed by hydrolysis of the benzoic acid methyl ester, coupling with (R)-isoserine ethyl ester hydrochloride. Hydrolysis afforded the title compound.

4-{[tert-Butoxycarbonyl-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)amino]methyl}benzoic acid methyl ester was suspended in ethanol (30 mL) and sodium hydroxide (4 N, 8.1 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The mixture was concentrated to dryness, suspended in water (100 mL), acidified with hydrochloric acid (8.5 mL, 4 N) and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted once more with ethyl acetate (30 mL) and the combined organic phases were washed with water (3×50 mL), dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacua. The residue was crystallised from a mixture of ethyl acetate and n-heptane to afford 1.75 g of 4-{[tert-butoxycarbonyl-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)amino]methyl}-benzoic acid.

(R)-3-(4-{[tert-Butoxycarbonyl-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)amino]methyl}benzoylamino)-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester was dissolved in ethyl acetate (10 mL) and dry hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate (3 M, 10 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in ethyl acetate (15 mL) and concentrated. This was repeated twice. The residue was then suspended in ethyl acetate (10 mL) and placed at 5° C. overnight. The precipitate was filtered and washed with ice-cooled ethyl acetate and dried in vacuo to afford 0.62 g of (R)-3-{4-[(4-cyclohexylphenylamino)-methyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester.

5-Amino-2-cyanobenzotrifluoride (0.07 g, 0.36 mmol) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (2 mL) and dry hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate (3.5 M, 5.5 mL) was added. After 15 min the solution was concentrated to dryness and co-evaporated three times from toluene (3×5 mL). The residue was added toluene (2.5 mL) and flushed with nitrogen for about 10 min, before diphosgene (0.43 mL) was added. Then the mixture was gently refluxed for 1 hour under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was cooled and concentrated to dryness in vacuo and then co-evaporated twice from toluene to remove excessive diphosgene to afford 4-cyano-3-trifluoromethylphenyl isocyanate.

(R)-3-{4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester, hydrochloride (0.13 g, 0.3 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (5 mL) and BSA (0.22 mL, 0.9 mmol) added. The mixture was stirred for 0.5 hour, and diisopropylethylamine (0.052 mL, 0.3 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was added to the isocyanate above and the reaction mixture stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel and washed twice with water (10 mL), dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo.

Step 7

(R)-3-{4-[3-(4-Cyano-3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoyl-amino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester (0.07 g, 0.124 mmol) was suspended in ethanol (3 mL) and sodium hydroxide (4 N, 0.19 mL, 0.742 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5 hour, and concentrated to remove the ethanol. The residue was diluted with water (10 mL) and acidified with hydrochloric acid (4 N, 0.21 mL). The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL) and the combined organic phases were washed with water (3×10 mL), dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound (0.68 g).

3-(tert-Butyl)aniline (0.054 g, 0.36 mmol) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (2 mL) and added dry hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate twice (3.5 M, 3 mL+2.5 mL). After 15 min the mixture was concentrated to dryness and co-evaporated three times from toluene (3×5 mL). The residue was added toluene (2.5 mL) and flushed with nitrogen for about 10 min, before diphosgene (0.43 mL) was added. Then the mixture was gently refluxed for 1 hour under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was cooled and concentrated in vacuo. This was repeated twice to remove excess of diphosgene. The mixture was concentrated to dryness and coevaporated three times from toluene (5 mL each time). The residue was concentrated to dryness and co-evaporated twice from toluene. Then it was redissolved in toluene (2.5 mL) and flushed with nitrogen for about 10 min, before diphosgene (0.43 mL) was added. The mixture was gently refluxed under nitrogen for 1 hour. After cooling, the mixture was concentrated and co-evaporated twice from toluene to remove excess diphosgene to afford 3-tert-butyl-phenyl isocyanate.

(R)-3-{4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester, hydrochloride (0.13 g, 0.3 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (5 mL) and BSA (0.22 mL, 0.9 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred for 0.5 hour, and diisopropylethylamine (0.052 mL, 0.3 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was added to the isocyanate above and stirred overnight. The reaction was transferred to a separatory funnel and washed twice with water (10 mL), dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (30 g) using ethyl acetate and n-heptane (6:4) (400 mL) and then ethyl acetate (100 mL) as eluent to afford 0.12 g of (R)-3-{4-[3-(3-tert-butylphenyl)-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester.

Step 7

(R)-3-{4-[3-(3-tert-Butylphenyl)-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester (0.11 g, 0.188 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (4 mL) and sodium hydroxide (4 N, 0.28 mL, 1.128 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred for 1.5 hour and concentrated in vacuo to remove the ethanol. The residue was diluted with water (10 mL), acidified with hydrochloric acid (4 N, 0.3 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The combined organic phases were washed with water (3×10 mL) and dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound (0.10 g).

Example 39

General Procedure (B)

Preparation of 3-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxymethyl)-4-trifluoromethoxyaniline to be Used in Step 6:

Fuming nitric acid (5 mL) was cooled on an ice bath. Methyl 2-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (5 g, 22.7 mmol) was slowly added within 30 min keeping the temperature below 15° C. The reaction was then stirred at 60° C. for 1 hour and 2 hours at room temperature. The mixture was poured on ice water whereupon an oil separated. The aqueous supernatant was decanted and additional water (50 mL) was added to the oil. After neutralisation with sodium hydrogen carbonate, the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (25 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL) once more. The combined organic phases were washed with saturated sodium chloride (2×15 mL), dried (magnesium sulphate), and concentrated in vacuo to give 5.69 g of 5-nitro-2-trifluoromethoxybenzoic acid methyl ester.

5-Amino-2-trifluoromethoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (3.0 g, 12.8 mmol) was dissolved in THF (20 mL) in a three-necked flask equipped with a thermometer and an addition funnel under nitrogen. Under stirring and ice-cooling lithium aluminum hydride (1 M in THF, 15 mL) was added dropwise within 10 minutes. Stirring was continued at room temperature for 1 hr, and the reaction was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in DCM (150 mL) and water (50 mL), then filtered through celite, washed with DCM and water. The filtrate was separated, and the water phase was extracted once more with DCM (30 mL). The combined organic phases were washed with water (2×20 mL), dried (magnesium sulphate) and concentrated in vacuo to give 2.47 g of (5-amino-2-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)methanol.

Bis(trichloromethyl)carbonate (triphosgene) (0.09 g, 0.31 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (2 mL) and cooled in an ice-bath under nitrogen. 3-(tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxymethyl)-4-trifluoromethoxyaniline (0.3 g, 0.93 mmol) was evaporated twice from toluene to remove any moisture and then dissolved in DCM (2 mL) and diisopropylethylamine (0.32 mL) was added. This solution was added to the cooled triphosgene solution and the mixture was stirred at 20° C. for 2.5 hours. (R)-3-{4-[(4-Cyclohexylphenylamino)methyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester hydrochloride (0.37 g, 0.83 mmol) was evaporated twice from toluene and dissolved in DMF (3 mL) and diisopropylethylamine (0.141 mL, 0.83 mmol) was added. The solution was added to the isocyanate above and, with stirring, heated at 80° C under nitrogen for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was extracted with DCM (80 mL), aqueous citric acid (10%, 25 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted with DCM (30 mL). The combined organic phases were washed with aqueous citric acid (10%, 3×25 mL), dried with magnesium sulphate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (58 g) using ethyl acetate and n-heptane (940 mL, 1:1 and 300 mL ethyl acetate) as eluent to afford 0.03 g of (R)-3-{4-[3-[3-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxymethyl)-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl]-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxyprop
ionic acid methyl ester.

HPLC-MS (Method B): m/z=758 (M+1); Rt=9.57 min.

Step 7

(R)-3-{4-[3-[3-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxymethyl)-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl]-1-(4-cyclohexyl-phenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxyp
ropionic acid methyl ester (24 mg, 0.032 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (1 mL) and sodium hydroxide (0.05 mL, 019 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours and concentrated to remove the ethanol. The residue was diluted with water (10 mL), acidified with hydrochloric acid (4 N, 0.3 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The combined organic phases were washed with water (3×10 mL) and dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo to give 17 mg of (R)-3-{4-[3-[3-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxymethyl)-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl]-1-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxyprop
ionic acid.

HPLC-MS (Method B): m/z=744 (M+1); Rt=9.35 min.

(R)-3-{4-[3-[3-(tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxymethyl)-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl]-1-(4-cyclohexyl-phenyl)ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxyp
ropionic acid (17 mg, 0.023 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile:water (9:1) (2 mL) and caesium fluoride (35 mg, 0.35 mmol) added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 6 hours and additional amounts of caesium fluoride (35 mg) added. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight, concentrated in vacuo and diluted with ethyl acetate (10 mL) and water (5 mL). The organic phase was washed with water (3×5 mL) and dried with magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacua. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC affording the title compound.

To the above resin bound (R)-Fmoc-isoserine was added 500 μL of a 20% solution of piperidine in DMF. Upon shaking for 30 min, the resin was drained and washed with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (6×1 mL). Then 200 μmol 4-formylbenzoic acid (30 mg) and 200 μmol HOBt (31 mg) were dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (500 μL) and added to the resin followed by 200 μmol diisopropyl carbodiimide (25.2 mg) dissolved in acetonitrile (500 μL). The mixture was shaken for 4 hours at 25° C. followed by filtration and washing of the resin with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (3×1 mL).

The above resin bound (R)-3-(4-formylbenzoylamino)-2-hydroxypropionic acid was treated with a 0.5 M solution of 4-tert-butylaniline (0.25 mmol) in a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and trimethylorthoformate (1:1, 0.5 mL) and glacial acetic acid (50 μL) for 1 hour at 25° C. Sodium cyanoborohydride (250 μmol, 16 mg) dissolved in a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and methanol (1:1, 0.25 mL) was added and the mixture was vortexed at 25° C. for 4 hours followed by filtration and washing with a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and methanol (1:1, 2×1 mL) 3×1 mL N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (3×1 mL) and a mixture of 1,2-dichloropropane and diisopropylethylamine (7:1, 2×0.75 mL).

The above resin bound (R)-3-{4-[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ureidomethyl]-benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid was treated with 1 mL 20% TFA in DCM for 1 hour at 25° C. The product was filtered off and the resin was washed with 1 mL DCM. The combined extracts were concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound.

To the above resin bound (R)-Fmoc-isoserine was added 500 μL of a 20% solution of piperidine in DMF. Upon shaking for 30 min, the resin was drained and washed with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (6×1 mL). Then, 200 μmol 4-formylbenzoic acid (30 mg) and 200 μmol HOBt (31 mg) was dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (500 μL) and added to the resin followed by 200 μmol diisopropyl carbodiimide (25.2 mg) dissolved in acetonitrile (500 μL). The mixture was shaken for 4 hours at 25° C. followed by filtration and washing of the resin with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (3×1 mL).

The above resin bound (R)-3-(4-formylbenzoylamino)-2-hydroxypropionic acid was treated with a 0.5 M solution of 4-tert-butylcyclohexylamine (0.25 mmol) in a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and trimethylorthoformate (1:1, 0.5 mL) and glacial acetic acid (50 μL) for 1 hour at 25° C. Sodium cyanoborohydride (250 μmol, 16 mg) dissolved in a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and methanol (1:1, 0.25 mL) was added and the mixture was vortexed at 25° C. for 4 hours followed by filtration and washing with a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and methanol (1:1, 2×1 mL) 3×1 mL N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (3×1 mL) and a mixture of 1,2-dichloropropane and diisopropylethylamine (7:1, 2×0.75 mL).

The above resin bound (R)-3-{4-[(4-tert-butylcyclohexylamino)methyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid was added 1,2-dichloropropane (500 μL) and BSA (100 μL) and the mixture was vortexed at 25° C. for 1 hour followed by filtration. To the resin was added a solution of 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylacetic acid (400 umol) in a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 1,2-dichloropropane and diisopropylethylamine (4.5:4.5:1, 1 mL) was added followed by a solution of bromo-tris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (400 μmol) in 1,2-dichloropropane (500 μL). The mixture was allowed to react for 3 hours at 50° C. and the resin was allowed to cool to 25° C. while washed with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (4×1 mL), and DCM (10×1 mL) afforded the resin bound title compound.

The above resin bound (R)-3-{4-[1-(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-ureidomethyl]benzoylamino}-2-hydroxypropionic acid was treated with 1 mL 20% TFA in DCM for 1 hour at 25° C. The product was filtered off and the resin was washed with 1 mL DCM. The combined extracts were concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound.

Example 73

General Procedure (D)

The following preferred compounds are within the scope of the invention and may be prepared according to the procedures disclosed herein. Other preferred compounds are:

wherein

E

D

Furthermore, the following compounds are within the scope of the present invention and may be prepared according to the procedures disclosed herein:

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

(R) and (S) diastereomers of

Furthermore, the following preferred compounds (as pure enantiomers of either (R) or (S) configuration or mixtures thereof, including racemates) are within the scope of the invention and may be prepared according to the procedures set forth in the foregoing description:

Pharmacological Methods

In the following section binding assays as well as functional assays useful for evaluating the efficiency of the compounds of the invention are described.

Binding of compounds to the glucagon receptor may be determined in a competition binding assay using the cloned human glucagon receptor.

Antagonism may be determined as the ability of the compounds to inhibit the amount of cAMP formed in the presence of 5 nM glucagon.

Glucagon Binding Assay (I)

Receptor binding are assayed using cloned human receptor (Lok et al., Gene 140, 203-209 (1994)). The receptor inserted in the pLJ6′ expression vector using EcoRI/SSt1 restriction sites (Lok et al.) is expressed in a baby hamster kidney cell line (A3 BHK 570-25). Clones are selected in the presence of 0.5 mg/mL G-418 and are shown to be stable for more than 40 passages. The Kd is shown to be 0.1 nM.

Plasma membranes are prepared by growing cells to confluence, detaching them from the surface and resuspending the cells in cold buffer (10 mM tris/HCl, pH 7.4 containing 30 mM NaCl, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 5 mg/L leupeptin (Sigma), 5 mg/L pepstatin (Sigma), 100 mg/L bacitracin (Sigma) and 15 mg/L recombinant aprotinin (Novo Nordisk A/S)), homogenization by two 10-s bursts using a Polytron PT 10-35 homogenizer (Kinematica), and centrifugation upon a layer of 41 w/v % sucrose at 95.000×g for 75 min. The white band located between the two layers is diluted in buffer and centrifuged at 40.000×g for 45 min. The precipitate containing the plasma membranes is suspended in buffer and stored at −80° C. until use.

Glucagon is iodinated according to the chloramine T method (Hunter and Greenwood, Nature 194, 495 (1962)) and purified using anion exchange chromatography (Jφrgensen et al., Hormone and Metab. Res. 4, 223-224 (1972). The specific activity is 460 pCi/μg on the day of iodination. Tracer is stored at −18° C in aliquots and used immediately after thawing.

Binding assays are carried out in triplicate in filter microtiter plates (MADV N65, Millipore). The buffer is 50 mM HEPES, 5 mM EGTA, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.005% tween 20, pH 7.4. Glucagon is dissolved in 0.05 M HCl, added an equal amount (w/w) of human serum albumin and freeze-dried. On the day of use, it is dissolved in water and diluted in buffer to the desired concentrations.

Test compounds are dissolved and diluted in DMSO. 140 μL buffer, 25 μL glucagon or buffer, and 10 μL DMSO or test compound are added to each well. Tracer (50.000 cpm) is diluted in buffer and 25 μL is added to each well. 1-4 μg freshly thawed plasma membrane protein diluted in buffer is then added in aliquots of 25 μL to each well. Plates are incubated at 30° C. for 2 hours. Non-specific binding is determined with 10−6 M of glucagon. Bound tracer and unbound tracer are then separated by vacuum filtration (Millipore vacuum manifold). The plates are washed with 2×100 μL buffer/well. The plates are air dried for a couple of hours, whereupon the filters are separated from the plates using a Millipore Puncher. The filters are counted in a gamma counter.

50 μL containing 5 μg of plasma membrane protein was added in a tris/HCl, EGTA, MgSO4, human serum albumin buffer (the actual concentrations are dependent upon the concentration of protein in the stored plasma membranes). The total assay volume is 140 μL. The plates are incubated for 2 hours at 37° C. with continuous shaking. Reaction is terminated by addition of 25 μL 0.5 N HCl. cAMP is measured by the use of a scintillation proximity kit (Amersham).

Glucagon Binding Assay (II)

BHK (baby hamster kidney cell line) cells are transfected with the human glucagon receptor and a membrane preparation of the cells is prepared. Wheat Germ Agglutinin derivatized SPA beads containing a scintillant (WGA beads) (Amersham) bound the membranes. 125I-glucagon bound to human glucagon receptor in the membranes and excited the scintillant in the WGA beads to light emission. Glucagon or samples binding to the receptor competed with 125I-glucagon.

GIP Binding Assay

BHK (baby hamster kidney cell line) cells are transfected with the human GIP receptor and a membrane preparation of the cells is prepared. Wheat Germ Agglutinin derivatized SPA beads containing a scintillant (WGA beads) (Amersham) bound the membranes. 125I-GIP bound to human GIP receptor in the membranes and excited the scintillant in the WGA beads to light emission. GIP or samples binding to the receptor competed with 1251-GIP.